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Micro Operators to Boost Local Service Delivery in 5G

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Abstract

Future digital society depends heavily on timely availability of high quality wireless connectivity the offering of which today is dominated by mobile network operators (MNOs). Future 5G systems aim at connecting billions of devices to serve versatile location and case specific needs of vertical sectors in parallel with the provisioning of traditional mobile broadband services. As the majority of mobile traffic originates from indoors, cost-efficient and fast deployment of new indoor small cell networks is fundamental, which calls for new developments in regulation and technology to enable new business. This paper proposes the concept of micro operators (uO) for local service delivery in 5G to build indoor small cell communication infrastructure and offer context related services and content. Key elements of the new micro operator concept are introduced including regulation-related factors of local spectrum access rights, and technology-related factors of flexible network implementation. Several business opportunities are identified for the uO concept including the provisioning of hosted local connectivity to all MNOs in specific locations, operation of secure networks for vertical sector specific use, and offering of locally tailored content and services.

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Acknowledgements

Authors would like to acknowledge Tekes – the Finnish Funding Agency for Innovation in “Micro-operator concept for boosting local service delivery in 5G (uO5G)” project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Wireless Communications (CWC), University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland

    Marja Matinmikko & Matti Latva-aho

  2. Oulu Business School, Martti Ahtisaari Institute (MAI), Oulu, Finland

    Petri Ahokangas & Timo Koivumäki

  3. Nokia, Oulu, Finland

    Seppo Yrjölä

Authors
  1. Marja Matinmikko
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  2. Matti Latva-aho
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  3. Petri Ahokangas
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  4. Seppo Yrjölä
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  5. Timo Koivumäki
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Correspondence to Marja Matinmikko.

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Matinmikko, M., Latva-aho, M., Ahokangas, P. et al. Micro Operators to Boost Local Service Delivery in 5G. Wireless Pers Commun 95, 69–82 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11277-017-4427-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11277-017-4427-5

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